That's One Huge Notepad

Check our latest DIY project (and yes, I have to admit, Dan did most of the work on this one)! It's a huge chalkboard we made out of a piece of smooth plywood and molding we cut and stained to make a frame. It measures 4' x 2'9" and we hung it in the hallway between our kitchen and back living room.

I'm a big note taker and to-do list maker. And I couldn't be more thrilled to have one huge surface to write down all my thoughts (most of which, at this juncture, are places I want to go and restaurants I want to try).

All you need is a smooth piece of plywood, some chalkboard paint, and a frame. We made our frame but you can easily use an old picture frame and make any size board!

My Soap Is Dope

My DIY diversions continue. The latest at-home project? Soap-making! Here's how I did it:



INGREDIENTS

37 oz. olive oil (use the cheap stuff)
2 oz. cocoa butter
24 oz. coconut oil
18 oz. palm oil
28 oz. cold water
12 oz. lye crystals (also known as sodium hydroxide)

I ordered all of this from Texas Natural Supply, and I used a kitchen scale to weigh it.

Start by mixing the lye crystals with the water in a Pyrex measuring cup, but remember, sodium hydroxide (lye) is caustic, so wear a dust mask (I'm not exactly sure if that even protects your lungs from the fumes) and ventilate your kitchen. I donned a bandana and blew a fan in my direction and survived. Don't let it get on your skin (OUCH!), and don't be alarmed when the mixture heats up and starts steaming. Let it cool to 110 degrees; meanwhile, warm the coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, and cocoa butter to 110 degrees in a big ole' pot. When both the lye mixture and the oils are at the same temperature, pour the lye into oil pot. Stir with a wooden spoon until you see the trace (this takes A WHILE, and by A WHILE I mean, 45 minutes, so get comfortable or pour yourself a glass of wine). This video helped me figure out how to recognize the trace, which is basically when you lift some of the mixture out of the pot on your spoon and dribble it back into the pot, it makes a very thin residue on top. Apparently, you can buy a stick blender to make this process happen a lot faster, but I haven't done that yet.When you see the trace, add 10 ml of peppermint essential oil (or whatever essential oil you want). Then, pour into the mold. I used a 13" x 9" clear glass baking pan lined with wax paper. Cover with tin foil and let it set overnight. Afterward, cut into bars and individually wrap each one (I used wax paper and printed out homemade labels). Scrub a dub dub.

I'm DIY'ing

A combination of joblessness and cold weather that's keeping me inside has sparked the DIY bulb in my brain. Earlier this week, I made made pickles! Now, I cannot vouch for their success until eight weeks from now when I pop the top, but here's how I did it (tweaked from Allrecipes.com). You can buy all the ingredients at Whole Foods (or, if you're in Dallas, Central Market). I bought the jars at Sur La Table.

Ingredients

• 4 pounds pickling cucumbers (also called kirbys)
  
• 2 cups white vinegar
• 6 cups water
• 1/3 cup pickling salt
• 8 cloves garlic, peeled and halved
• 12 sprigs fresh dill weed
  

Directions

1. Cut off the flower end of each cucumber (it's the little brown spot on the end).
2. Soak cucumbers in a big bowl of ice water for at least 2 hours.
3. Sterilize 4 (1 quart) canning jars and lids in boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
4. Bring vinegar, water, and pickling salt to a boil.
5. Place 2 half-cloves of garlic and a few sprigs of dill in the bottom of each jar, then fill with cucumbers. Add 2 more garlic halves and 1 sprig of dill, then fill jars with hot brine and put the lids on.
   
6. Place each sealed jar in a pot of boiling water for 15 minutes.
7. Remove and set on the counter for at least 8 weeks before eating. Refrigerate after opening.